When I twitted to Ginger the URL to my “Chutzpah!” review his direct reply took me by surprise. Normally, you get a “thanks” when the review is good and an eloquent silence when it’s not. This time, I found myself in a Twitter exchange about different views on the topic of moving on and terminating with an interview being arranged.
What came out is an enlightening and honest conversation about music, staying positive, music, Barack Obama, furniture, bills, more music, drugs, holy dealers and again music. If you find this as uplifting and inspiring as I did, run to the record store and get high on “Chutzpah!” while waiting for the upcoming Wildhearts UK live shows. You will thank me someday.
Altsounds: May sound like a silly question to start, but I know many of our readers have never listened to the Wildhearts before and they don’t know what they’re missing! So for all these lost souls, how would you describe your music?
Ginger: Uplifting, melodic, heavy, energetic, joyous, thought provoking Rock n Roll.
Altsounds: After the Wildhearts reunion you released three quite different albums: “The Wildhearts must be destroyed” in 2003, almost a pop album, “The Wildhearts” in 2007, probably the hardest sounding one, and finally “Chutzpah!” where you seem to have found the ideal balance. Were you looking for this sound, or does it just reflect a personal and artistic growth?
Ginger: The Wildhearts, much like anything, is a journey. It's not a bad metaphor for life actually. Picking out specific moments or details is irrelevant as the story is still going on. I'd like to think that everything reflects a growth otherwise we're regressing aren't we?
Altsounds: “Chutzpah!” is also the first album where the whole band took part in both the song writing and singing while until now The Wildhearts was “Ginger’s band”. What do you think of this experiment’s result, and are you going to continue along this route?
Ginger: I'd love to have people contribute more in the future, in fact one day I hope it's a full 25% each of contributions. Still, we're getting there. Every little step is in the right direction.
Altsounds: Tell us absolutely everything about “Chutzpah!” that could inspire Wildhearts’ virgins to run to the record store (WH fans have already). Selling more copies is one of the main reasons we’re here after all!
Ginger: If you're tired of getting substandard rock albums every time you shop then do yourself a favour and treat yourself to something you'll actually enjoy. Some people might tell you we're not as good as we used to be, but I wouldn't really take those people seriously. Oh, and keep the receipt in case your taste is so far removed from where it should be and you actually don't like it!
Altsounds: Not only a new album, but also a new Ginger. You’ve been in dark places until not that long ago, but recently you seem so happy, positive and enthusiastic [from your blogs and tweets] and the music seems to reflect that. What brought the sunshine in your life?
Ginger: I decided to eliminate negativity from my life and only accept positivity. Since then everything has been going great for me. I started reading Buddhism and Eastern philosophy a few years ago, and that has been a great and constant theme in my life. Our frame of mind is all based on perception, and once I realised that the job of changing my perception was just another habit I began to slowly master.
Altsounds: The excesses and instability that characterized The Wildhearts in the past seem a distant memory with the current line-up?
Ginger: We all got bored of being fuck ups I guess. I didn't get into this to be an alcoholic junkie. I fell into that way of life, and it was up to me to remind myself what is really important to me. It all started with music and I still value that way more than the lifestyle that goes with it. I'm lucky to have such a gift and to squander it is an insult to God.
Altsounds: You’ve been clean for a long time now and you can see the difference from the other side. Do you have any words of wisdom for those who struggle with any sort of addictions and demons?
Ginger: One thing I know is that no one will sort out their life unless they really want to. In this respect any advice is patronising and inappropriate. All I will say is that there IS another way and you DO have a choice.
If anyone does want to get their life together I suggest joining AA and hit 90 meetings in 90 days, then see how you feel.
Altsounds: So, a Kerrang! Award after all this time, to The Wildhearts’ “Spirit of Independence”! Did you repay that office furniture? [Editor: Years ago the Wildhearts trespassed and trashed Kerrang!’s offices, following untrue published news about a breakup]
Ginger: We never did pay for that bill, and that award looks like it cost a fortune. Funny old world, innit?
Altsounds: You also produced some outstanding and acclaimed solo work in the past years; anything new in the pipeline, or any other side project going on?
Ginger: Thank you, that's very nice of you to say. I'm working on a new project with the guys who play in my solo band in LA. I say 'solo' band. They're all famous business men, rock stars and DJ's, they just love the stuff I write, and I love how inspirational it feels to be around their energy. They're teaching me so much about self promotion and giving me untold amounts of confidence. We still don't have a name but we recorded a song recently and I'm happy to say that it turned out amazing. Kinda like a cross between Sex Pistols, Thin Lizzy, The Kinks, even a little Pink Floyd in there.
Altsounds: Recently you have been working and hanging out with loads of big names that influenced your career, do you feel more “starstruck teenager” or “accomplished grown man”?
Ginger: Both! It's a tremendous feeling of achievement to be able to thank your influences in person for their contribution to your musical education. Still, some people just have me occasionally coming around to the realisation that "shit, that's Maria McKee.....fuck, that's Ace Frehley!", people that have meant so much to me in my life, y'know. I'm still very much a fan.
I buy CD's, I buy concert tickets, I get shaky around my heroes and heroines. I still love what I always loved. Of course I've grown up and understand how they do it now, or I've got different responsibilities nowadays, but I love these people no less than I did back then.
Altsounds: You went from being a bit of a reclusive to exploiting all forms of communication to keep a personal lifeline with your fans. How important to you is the relationship with your fan base?
Ginger: It's the most important bond in music. They allow me to do what I do and I love and respect them for it. I think it's just plain weird when people take this for granted, but, as sure as night follows day, except occasionally in Sweden, these people don't last. And they certainly don't get a career out of this. I'm lucky that I don't have to get a real job to subsidise my musical career, and for that I am eternally grateful to the supporters of my music, and I strive to make the music more interesting and maintain the standard that people expect.
I used to be a recluse because of drugs, and I can tell you now that the alternative is every bit as good as being high. I was the kind of drug user who never expected to hear myself say that.
Altsounds: You’re a big Twitter user, what do you think of social networking, is it a great invention or a necessary evil?
Ginger: It's great fun. I love it. It sure beats standing in the rain talking to people for hours after a show and pissing off the driver of your bus! You can just say hello to them now, sign some stuff and they can get in touch with you via Twitter. I'm the kind of guy that makes time to answer back, and I think people appreciate that. Anyone who doesn't value interacting with fans, enjoy your obscurity because it's coming.
Altsounds: I read one of your twits this morning about waking up with bad thoughts and fighting them off in less than one hour... What’s your secret? Help us get off the antidepressants!
Ginger: Again it's all about perception, and once you know that you don't have to stay in the same mood all day it's a very illuminating discovery and often quite a fun challenge. Once you admit that your life isn't what it should be then the first step has been made, the rest is just a process. A tough process, sure, at times maddening but depression is a lot more unpleasant than anything that this approach involves. This technique involves helping yourself, and depression is all about feeling helpless and who'd rather feel helpless?
Altsounds: What’s your position with regards to file sharing and illegal downloading?
Ginger: Hey, as long as you're buying a t-shirt and an album you're in the family, and you can share whatever you want. I don't agree with people exploiting the band and making money off us, we are NOT rich. If you want us to stick around then buy something will ya?! If you're just gonna take and take then you're not really helping the cause, you know?
Altsounds: Why New York? Is this move permanent? Don’t you ever miss London and Newcastle, friends and family?
Ginger: I love New York so much I finally think I found my home. I'm proud to be an Englishman, and I'm proud of our heritage in the arts. That's good enough for me. As far as missing the rain, the cold, the brainless violence, the depressing TV, the obsession with talentless celebrities, the shit food and the stupid shopping hours? C'mon, there's a world out there. Get your passport out and stop moaning about this place. Go away and bring some sunshine back.
Altsounds: From that side of the pond, do you think Barack Obama is doing a good job so far?
Ginger: I think he's doing exactly what he said he would do. He said it would take a while and hoped that people would have patience. It's taking a while but typically patience is thin on the ground. The guy isn't God and he was also the ONLY person even worth considering for election, let's not forget that. We've just had 8 years at the hands of a brainless, child killing barbarian. Obama is doing just fine.
Altsounds: You’re touring soon to promote “Chutzpah!”; for all those “Wildhearts virgins” again, why should you spend your money and time on a Wildhearts gig?
Ginger: It's a truly great atmosphere at a Wildhearts gig. The audience are so passionate and there's a real feeling of community and camaraderie in there. You'll meet some very cool, authentic people who might become lifelong friends, you will have the living shit rocked out of you, you will be tired, emotional and partially deaf, and you will miss it like Xmas once it's over.
Altsounds: What’s on your I-Pod at the moment? Any new bands you would recommend?
Ginger: My iPod has about 3 months of music on it. I have an 80 GB one that people said I'd never fill with music, and guess what? I did. It's hopeless to even single out anything on my iPod as I'm a music addict and collect everything from Classic to Country, Punk to Dance, Thrash Metal to Japanese Pop. I just leave it on shuffle and it does the work for me. I had a bit of a panic attack a few years back wondering if I'd survive without my iPod, but I've been working on that problem and now I think I'd be fine starting again. Maybe even a little excited.
Altsounds: You also find time (God knows where from) to write “Ginger’s Secret History of Rock’n’Roll” column for Classic Rock where you review some amazing albums from the past that seem to have unfairly stayed off the radar way too long. If one of our “Wildhearts virgins” decides to give “Chutzpah!” a go and you become his new favourite band, which three “secret” classics would you recommend him?
Ginger: Classics related to Chutzpah?
- Silver Ginger 5 "Black Leather Mojo",
- Ginger "Valor Del Corazon",
- Ginger "Market Harbour".
Classics not related to Chutzpah?
- Trail Of Dead " So Divided",
- The Proclaimers "Sunshine On Leith",
- ABBA "Arrival".
Altsounds: Really, how do you do it? The Wildhearts, your solo stuff, occasional side projects, blogs, columns, a baby, planes, interviews, twitting. Are you sure you’re not on drugs? If you are, what stuff is it and who’s your dealer??
Ginger: God is my dealer and his shit is amazing! I dunno, I used to put an awful lot of time and effort into ensuring I was always high, now I have that energy and I'm not hustling/scoring I find that there is always time to fit everything in. I like to scare myself with the amount of things I want to do but they all get done somehow. Hangovers usually kill creativity quite effectively.
Eliminate hangovers and you've got a good 15 hours a day with which to juggle everything and make it work. The secret is not making time for relaxing. I spend so much time in airports and on planes that the things that normally drive people insane with boredom I just go "ahhhhhhhhh, this is lovely"!
Altsounds: What are the three most overrated and underrated bands of all times, apart from the Wildhearts?
I don't think The Wildhearts are particularly underrated. I think we do okay with the critics and we've been personally responsible for fucking up our chances, so we're pretty evened out as far as where we should be in the scheme of things.
Underrated bands?
- Jason & the Scorchers,
- Starz,
- And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead.
Overrated? That's not for me to say. If someone likes it then the deal is a good one. However, if someone is making far more money than they can spend and they're watching kids starving on TV then that's a different matter and, indeed, a different conversation.
Altsounds: Where do you see yourself in ten years from now, and what are the things you still absolutely have to do before you die?
Ginger: I don't make plans, which is why I'm able to do one thing at a time without panicking about the other 1000 things I need to do after that's done! I'd like to be writing books, I'd like to be successfully writing songs, I'd like the band to tour South America and I'd like to live full time in USA but if none of them happen I'll still be very satisfied with my lot. All I really want to do is continue to achieve spiritual balance.
Altsounds: Any regret, or anything you would change if you could go back in time?
Ginger: Absolutely nothing. The dumb things I did have got me where I am today so I don't regret any of them. Like I said the story isn't yet complete. Who knows if it ever is?
Altsounds: This is your free Altsounds space: what would you like to say to our readers?
Ginger: Tell the truth, try not to judge, stay positive, do something that scares you (at least once a day), tell someone you love them every day, value your friends as you would your word, and don't take everything so damned seriously!
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